Arsenal have opened talks with Juventus over a sensational deal that could see a cash-plus-player deal for Arturo Vidal to move to the Emirates Stadium before the transfer deadline.

The Gunners are known to be in the market for a top class midfielder after spending much of the summer pursuing the likes of Real Madrid star Sami Khedira and Sporting Lisbon youngster William Carvalho, though both moves have failed to materialise.

Although Khedira may still be Arsene Wenger’s priority target due to his reduced transfer fee owing to his contract situation at the Bernabeu, a move is far from being concluded as the German international’s wage demands continue to prove a stumbling block for his proposed switch to the north London giants.

Vidal is likely to be far more expensive, with Arsenal negotiating his £40m transfer fee down with the inclusion of German forward Lukas Podolski as part of the deal, which the Italian giants are thought to be considering.

Juve have been hoping to sign a player in return from Manchester United all summer long as the Red Devils have pursued Vidal, though the two clubs have failed to come to an agreement, with one target, Nani, leaving on loan to Sporting Lisbon and United unwilling to let another of their targets, Javier Hernandez, leave Old Trafford after putting Danny Welbeck up for sale instead.

Podolski could now be the ideal bait to push this deal through, and Vidal’s superb box-to-box ability in midfield would make him a strong alternative to the likes of Khedira and Carvalho, as well as being a long-term replacement for club captain Mikel Arteta, whose injury has also sped up Wenger’s chase for a new midfield signing.

Vidal was speculatively linked with Arsenal earlier this summer after Wenger monitored both his and Alexis Sanchez’s displays for the Chilean national team at the World Cup in Brazil.

Sanchez eventually signed in a £35m deal from Barcelona, with Vidal looking out of reach at the time, though that may now have changed as negotiations between the two clubs commence.